Billboard

Press, 9 November 1988, Page 26

Billboard

Music festival A family musical gathering is being held in Methven on Sunday to raise funds for Greymouth flood victims. The Methven and Mt Hutt District Promotion Association and Whitecliffs Festival organisers have planned a day of family entertainment at the Methven Showgrounds from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Appearing will be the Boru Bushband from Geraldine, who will teach and call barn-dances for all ages, John Grenell, the Coal Rangers, Sharp Showband, Harmony Aquarian, Peter Henderson and Easy Rider and Chris Moore. There will also be clowns, donkey rides, craft and food stalls. Admission is $lO for adults with children under 15 free. Arts conference “Charting the Cultural Course” is the title of the Southern Regional Arts Council’s conference to be held at Lincoln College from November 11 to 13, under the chairmanship of Tony Borick, of Dunedin. The conference will be addressed on Friday by the Minister for the Arts, Dr Michael Bassett. As well as the annual business of electing members to the Regional Arts Council, delegates attending will discuss issues such as “What is cultural policy?” and “Is a cultural policy necessary for local government agencies?” The conference will also be addressed by the Chairman of the Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council, lan Cochrane. Also participating will be the recently appointed director of Queen Elizabeth II Arts Council, Peter Quin and Peter Boag, the secretary for Internal Affairs. There will be an open forum for free discussion on the Sunday morning. Among the artists appearing at the conference will be the Canterbury Regional Opera Company, the amazing Mr Moon, the Flying Hat Company’s Moa, kitemaker Peter Lynn, and the Canterbury Percussion Ensemble. The Saturday evening will feature a celtic/reggae concert with Foxy Dan and I and I. There will also be a video from the 1990 Commission on Friday evening. All are welcome to attend the conference. Interested people should contact Jill Cotton at the Southern Regional Arts Council. Ransom show A Christchurch artist, Peter Ransom, is exhibiting new works at Gingko Gallery in the Arts Centre. The show includes large charcoal and chalk drawings, linocuts, lithographs and the first etchings made by Ransom since 1984. It is almost two years since Christchurch people have seen new work by this artist. An early 1987 exhibition, also at Gingko Gallery, was well received by local critics. Not yet 30, Peter Ransom has already been invited to show at public galleries throughout New Zealand and in the United States. His work is held in the collections of the National Gallery and the Department of Foreign Affairs, in provincial galleries and corporate collections. The Gingko exhibition will continue until November 26. Art awards Increased financial support has been announced for the Waipukurau-based Norsewear Art Awards by its sponsors. Norsewear Industries, Ltd has pledged three years financial support of $22,500 for the art awards. The Waipukurau District Council also recently announced continued support and financial backing for the awards. The Norsewear Art Awards were first held in Waipukurau in 1987 with three prize categories — painting, pottery and woolcraft. In 1988 Norsewear announced increased prize money of $2OOO for each award, and the host Waipukurau District Council also gave financial assistance and support. The 1989 awards will be held in Waipukurau from April 15 to 30, and will include a contemporary carving category, although this category will not attract prize money. Entries for the 1989 Norsewear Art Awards are now open and close on March 31, 1989. Ballet to tour So great has been the interest shown in Southern Ballet and Dance Theatre from other centres in New Zealand, and so enthusiastic have been guest choreographers about the work of the dancers, that the company may go to Wellington and Auckland next April. Director Russell Kerr plans to tour a programme selected from works presented in Christchurch during 1988.